Four missing foreign divers found safe off Samae San

Four foreign divers who went missing off the coast of Samae San in Chon Buri were found safe yesterday evening, following a multi-agency search that lasted several hours. The experienced divers, all certified, had participated in technical diving training when they failed to resurface at the expected time. A large-scale search and rescue operation, involving both sea and air units, was initiated, with Sattahip district chief Nattawut Anuyotha leading the effort alongside Sattahip Police Station superintendent Pol Col Khomsan Khamtunkaew.

At 8:45pm, officers from the Naval Special Warfare Command spotted the divers floating near Suay Nam Sai beach and brought them to shore safely. The four divers identified as 64-year-old Gary Phillips from the UK, 63-year-old JD John Mecrew from the US, 37-year-old Bartosz Royals from Poland, and 50-year-old Tim Pitcher, also from the US, were reunited with their families, many of whom had been anxiously waiting for news.

The divers were found to be holding diving certifications and had extensive experience, with some serving as diving instructors. They had journeyed to the area specifically to enhance their technical diving skills. It is believed that after surfacing from their dive, the group was unable to locate their boat, opting to stay afloat rather than swim, and were eventually carried by currents to Suay Nam Sai beach, where they were discovered.

The timely recovery of all four divers marked a hopeful conclusion to a search operation that involved various officials, rescue teams, and relatives throughout the day and night.